to hug my boss

[CanStopWillStop]

So I'm meeting my work colleagues next month for the first time after working together for 2 years remotely. In my previous in-person jobs I have, and would, hug my colleagues at appropriate times (i.e. social settings) but would it be unreasonable to hug my boss, who is younger than me and male, when we meet? I would obviously judge in the moment if it's an appropriate time to do so, but I'm curious if anyone would just outright never do it.

Additional context: they are Americans.

I would just probably say hi. Maybe a handshake if offered. Not sure I would assume a hug was appropriate.

Nope
Why do you want to hug him?
I find it abit odd

YANBU, I’ve never worked anywhere that wasn’t huggy, and having lived and worked in the US for years they were the most likely to initiate a hug so I’d say go for it.

No, I really wouldn't.

Do you fancy him? Why are you looking for an opportunity to hug him?

Typical MN

I hug all kinds of people and it’s very normal in my workplace. Its not an intimate thing, it’s akin to kissing on both cheeks in some Mediterranean cultures. It’s only on mumsnet that I learnt some industries/people consider it inappropriate or ‘UnBritish’, which made me laugh. It sounds like a stereotype of us rather than a real thing! I genuinely find it amazing people are so negative about friendly contact.
For context- I work in charity sector in the U.K. now and work with an international staff.

If unsure, just follow their lead.

I would go with handshake

I do hug my colleagues, and my boss but I have been there 5 years now!

Definitely not at a first face-to-face meet! Here be Dragons really.

This is the first time you're face to face with them? Don't assume hugging would be appropriate or welcomed regardless of them being American.

Warm handshake.

Leave the hugging until you have at least had a work night out, been pissed together and badly dueted Simply The Best on karaoke.

Hell no.
Would make me feel like i am demeaning myself and becoming the 'woman who hugs' rather than the professional equal to the men woman that I am.

Of course you don’t hug your boss. Offer a handshake.

Handshake is sufficient, two handed if you want but for godsake don't hug him. I'm female and would be grossly uncomfortable with this for a multitude of reasons:

• I'm not keen on close physical contact with people I've never met before

• Doubly so since COVID

• Not in the workplace/with colleagues

• Inappropriate to hug a superior, even in a social setting

So much to unpack here

Do you think men who hug are demeaning themselves?

Totally inappropriate and am surprised you have to ask whether you should touch someone who isn’t a friend/relative or not. Give your head a wobble!

I'm not a man and probably not younger than you. But I still HATE being touched, especially by people at work. Hugging is just awful, you can't say no in a graceful way when someone's heading towards you with their arms out, you just have to hope it's over soon.

But hey, if it makes you happy then why should you care about the other person. "Enthusiastic consent" doesn't apply when it's a woman doing the touching, apparently...

If he's a hugger, he'll hug you I expect.

No-one here can tell you whether he'd consider it appropriate, so just go with a warm hello.

And not all Americans are huggers!

I had similar and we hugged at the end of the evening.

I had not planned to hug colleagues when we all first met after the team being built during covid but many of us felt the same. It was spontaneous and lovely. Never happened again. But it felt right!

I would say no.

I hug my family and my friends.

Handshakes are enough for the workplace. As a manager I'd be horrified if one of my line reports or colleagues tried to hug me.

I do. If we are on a night out, my males colleagues will all greet me if a hug and kiss on the check, we end the night out in the same way. My boss does the same. But I have worked with a lot of them for over 20 years, so they are more that colleagues.

I would hate for someone to expect a hug from me, it invades my personal space and I really dislike it. I would take your lead from your boss and see what he does.

I don't know. I'm not a hugger with people I don't know so well, but have hugged colleagues on occasion - if they're upset, there's been a falling out, they're leaving... but I've been working here for 18 years so it's a bit different. I would probably err on the side of not hugging, given that you're asking the question.

Omg lol no I do not 'fancy' my boss. It's merely an etiquette question. We are meeting up in a social work setting and some of my coworkers seem like they might be the hugging type, as am I. I was curious if hugging your boss is a blanket no, or if perhaps I should initiate one if the situation is appropriate. I think it would be weird to hug others and not him, but the fact that I'm asking the question means I know it could also be weird too.